Amazon's new Alexa Tablets drop the Fire branding but are more Android than ever
Amazon killed its app store, so Google Play it is.
Amazon has introduced a new line of Alexa Tablets, abandoning the Fire branding for the Alexa name. These new devices are more akin to Android tablets than ever before, as they now operate on Google-certified Android. This shift is a significant departure from the company's previous Fire Tablets, which downplayed their use of Android and ran apps from Amazon's own Appstore platform without Google integration.
In fact, Amazon even shut down its app store last year. The new Alexa Tablets run full-fledged Android versions with the Play Store and all familiar apps, a stark contrast to the custom Linux-based Vega OS used in Fire Sticks. The Alexa Tablet lineup includes three redesigned devices with unibody aluminum housings. The Alexa Tablet 8 starts at $230, while the Tablet 11 is priced at $330.
Powered by the budget MediaTek 8189 processor, these tablets represent an upgrade from their last-gen counterparts. Notably, both devices feature a 16:10 display ratio, which is better suited for video watching. The flagship Tablet 11 introduces a unique twist.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
